Because of this, I've reverted back to a previous list from before Sanctum Prelate. To be honest, there hasn't been much to innovate around – which has made me lose a bit of interest in the format. I apologize as it's lead to a lack of content for the website - but I strive to not publish fluff content.

This past weekend I attended a Standard Grand Prix in Providence, RI. After losing my first round of day 2, I decided I would rather play Legacy than hope to make it on tie-breakers for the minimum amount of money. Feeling a bit rusty after not playing Legacy in months, I worry that I won't be prepared for Star City Games: Baltimore in a few weeks and that I could use the practice.

Mistake #1

First round of the event, I sit across from my opponent and I can't put my finger on what he's playing - but I know the answer. I recognized him from Star City Games: Syracuse and I played against his friend playing Maverick. I put him on a Thalia, Guardian of Thraben deck.

I win the die roll and start with a Ponder, even though I have a pair of Cabal Therapy and a Lotus Petal in my hand. I figure it's better to see if I could just kill on the second turn instead. Well, I die.

It turns out my opponent is playing Belcher, he plays all of his spells into Telemin Performance - sigh. While technically not a misplay, I feel like I should've been able to get around this situation. The real misplay this round was in game two.

This round was pretty miserable for me, after not playing Legacy since SCG: Syracuse I really felt out of practice. These sort of mental mistakes are ones that I hold myself above, I shouldn't be making these errors.

Mistake #2

I've beaten Goblins in our game one and we're headed into game two. My opponent has been talking about how long he's played Goblins and how much he loves them, which makes me think back to all of those years of facing Nick Patnode on Goblins. Nick typically played Chalice of the Void or Thorn of Amethyst for his storm hate. I side out my copy of Empty the Warrens(ironically enough, I used Goblins to kill him in game one) and the pair of Duress for the Bayou and two Hurkyl’s Recall. I chose the Hurkyl’s Recall over Abrupt Decay because they're easier to cast against a deck with Wasteland and Rishadan Port.

We're at the start of game two, I cast Ponder leaving Hurkyl’s Recall on top of my deck. I can kill my opponent on the second turn or set up for a Hurkyl’s Recall, instead, my opponent plays a Thalia, Guardian of Thraben... How did I blank on that? Fortunately he searches up a Plateau to do so, I start setting up for a Burning Wish for Massacre turn that I'll be able to kill him with on turn four. I'm attacked to two and finished with a Tarfire the turn before I can win.

Needless to say, I switched the Hurkyl’s Recalls for Abrupt Decay for our third game. While this is a small mistake, it cost me a game not considering that my opponent was playing Thalia, Guardian of Thraben in their deck – I know better. Small or large, misplays like this cost you rounds in large events.

Final Thoughts

Not everything was bad, I had a situation against Reanimator where I wouldn't have been able to kill them without Grapeshot - which was pretty awesome. I didn't play all that well over the weekend, but it's time to get the dust off before Star City Games: Baltimore in a few weeks. It's important to remember your mistakes and try to grow from them, it's how you become better as a player. But also, playing decks in events while being "cold" with them isn't great, but can certainly clear out the cobwebs.

Until next time, keep storming!

Bryant Cook

Bryant Cook has 1 Grand Prix Top 8 as well as 9 Star City Games Top 8s (2 wins). You can often find him traveling the northeast in search for the next big event, he recently won SCG: Worcester and is the Legacy Premier League Season 3 Champion!
Outside of M:TG he's an avid New York Mets fan, graphic designer, pop-punk enthusiast, and doggo aficionado.
Bryant Cook is the owner and president of The EPIC Storm.

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